Table Pancakes

Table Pancakes

By Katherine Foster and Shelbi JonesSociety & CultureRelationshipsPersonal Journals
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Table Pancakes episodes

  • An Update from Table Pancakes: What’s Next for the Podcast

    In this episode of Table Pancakes, Katherine and Shelbi share an important update about the podcast and discuss what’s next.


    Join the Conversation

    Email us: [email protected]

    Follow us on Instagram: @tablepancakespod

    Connect with us: @shelbihq | @katherinehfoster


    If you’ve been part of our journey, we’d love it if you rated, reviewed, and subscribed to the show. Your support means the world to us.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    27 min
  • Being Present & Preparing for What’s Next: Catching Up with Katherine & Shelbi

    In this episode of Table Pancakes, Katherine and Shelbi check in from opposite coasts, reflecting on their latest adventures and how they balance soaking in the present while preparing for the future.


    What We Cover:Katherine’s Staycation in Brooklyn
    • Enjoying a peaceful Labor Day weekend in the city
    • I took strolls through the Botanic Gardens, made new connections, and spent time with family during US Open Fan Week
    • Embracing the quieter side of New York and savoring the moment
    Shelbi’s West Coast Check-In
    • Recording from San Francisco, a city she’s revisiting with gratitude after years of traveling there for work
    • Prepping for a family wedding in Minneapolis before an action-packed return to New York
    • I look forward to attending the US Open, hosting a family for an Usher concert, and jetting off to Amsterdam
    • Balancing a busy schedule with being present and appreciating every experience

    Join the Conversation

    Email us: [email protected]

    Follow us on Instagram: @tablepancakespod

    Connect with us: @shelbihq | @katherinehfoster


    If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love it if you rated, reviewed, and subscribed to the show. Your support helps us continue these conversations.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    11 min
  • Gathering Energy: Communal Moments & Carrying Summer into Fall

    In this episode of Table Pancakes, Katherine and Shelbi reflect on this summer's group gatherings, the power of collective experiences, and the energy created by coming together.


    What We Cover:Commune & Connect
    • Appreciating the joy of witnessing friends in love at weddings and reconnecting with people from shared walks of life
    • Tapping into the cultural moment of the Olympics while acknowledging the economic realities of many athletes beyond the American Dream narrative
    • Recognizing the dual nature of national camaraderie and the complexity of global sporting events
    Music Sounds Better with You
    • The joy of live music (especially with respectful and inclusive crowds) keeps it an experience worth seeking
    • The Brooklyn block party effect—creates a sense of home and community even if you don’t live on the block
    • Understanding the culture of block parties and the importance of engaging with respect, not just for the event itself
    Summer Energy at a Fall Pace
    • Excitement for the slower pace of fall after a high-energy summer
    • Consider which summer feelings and experiences to carry into quieter seasons for sustained connection
    • Prioritizing meaningful conversations and creating spaces to commune and connect

    Question of the Week:

    What type of big group gatherings have you found energizing or inspiring, and how do you hope to carry summer’s inspiration into the new seasons?


    Join the Conversation

    Email us: [email protected]

    Follow us on Instagram: @tablepancakespod

    Connect with us: @shelbihq | @katherinehfoster


    If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love it if you rated, reviewed, and subscribed to the show. Your support helps us continue these conversations.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min
  • Work Friends & Career Growth: The Power of Professional Networks

    In this episode of Table Pancakes, Katherine and Shelbi reflect on friendships formed through jobs and ventures and how these relationships intersect with career development, networking, and entrepreneurship.


    What We Cover:Jobs Come & Go, Work Friends Come With
    • Looking back at work friends from the last 10+ years and how those relationships have evolved over time
    • Seeking career insights from both industry peers and friends from entirely different fields
    • Balancing the realities of entrepreneurship with the need to promote your business authentically—sometimes with a healthy dose of delusion
    Directness Clarifies Direction
    • Understanding that how you present your work is just as important as the quality of the work itself
    • The art of asking for advice—why vague "pick your brain" requests often lead to unproductive conversations
    • Being transparent and direct about what you do and want to achieve is essential
    Authentically Curated Connection
    • The unique power of networking in NYC, a vast but interconnected city.
    • Creating intentional, welcoming environments that make it easier to build meaningful connections.
    • Shelbi’s experience at a recent EV Salon event, an invite-only gathering that facilitates handpicked, high-impact connections.

    Question of the Week:

    How have your friendships impacted your career, and how have these connections shifted as you’ve grown professionally?


    Join the Conversation

    Email us: [email protected]

    Follow us on Instagram: @tablepancakespod

    Connect with us: @shelbihq | @katherinehfoster


    If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love it if you rated, reviewed, and subscribed to the show. Your support helps us continue these conversations.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    39 min
  • Loneliness in Your 30s: Navigating Shifting Friendships and Changing Priorities

    In this episode of Table Pancakes, Katherine and Shelbi dive into the loneliness that can creep in during your 30s, reflecting on the realities of day-to-day single life and how friendships shift over time.


    What We Cover:Quick Shifts, Big Changes
    • Unpacking Adiv’s viral TikTok about experiencing loneliness as a 30-something in Los Angeles.
    • This section discusses how friendships and social dynamics evolve as people enter different life stages and how they can strengthen or transform in unexpected ways.
    • It is essential to recognize that loneliness is not exclusive to single people—those in relationships also experience changes in priorities and social interactions.
    Common Ground in Evolving Landscapes
    • Examining how societal norms shape friendships and why they can make some people feel othered.
    • The role of curiosity and empathy in maintaining connections as life transitions unfold.
    • Understanding when shifting priorities changes a friendship's fulfillment level and what that means for its future.
    Embracing the Home That Holds You
    • Finding comfort, fulfillment, and beauty in having a home to yourself or sharing it with a partner
    • Acknowledging that no life stage is inherently better—solo and partnered households have unique benefits and challenges
    • Appreciating that while life can feel richer with the right people around you, there is also value in embracing your current season and finding the friendships that support you through it

    Question of the Week:

    How have shifts in romantic relationship statuses in your circle shaped (or not shaped) the dynamics of your friendships?


    Stay Connected

    Email us: [email protected]

    Follow us on Instagram: @tablepancakespod

    Connect with us: @shelbihq | @katherinehfoster


    If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love it if you rated, reviewed, and subscribed to the show. Your support helps us continue these conversations.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min
  • Finding the Right People: Deep Bonds, Medium Friends, and Evolving Connections

    In this episode of Table Pancakes, Katherine and Shelbi explore what it means to have the “right people” in our lives, how friendships evolve, and the role of “medium friends” who may not be our closest confidants but still play meaningful roles.


    What We Cover:Letting Vibes Lead in Finding the Right People
    • The power of deep bonds with given family, chosen family, and platonic partners
    • Choosing to surround yourself with people who align with your values and needs
    • The importance of mutual understanding and adaptability in maintaining friendships through life transitions
    The Unclear Nature of Gaining Clarity
    • The difficulty of setting expectations and boundaries in friendships
    • How reciprocity works (and doesn’t work) in relationships, and why overextending yourself rarely benefits anyone (referencing Vibe Check’s Do It While It’s Still Legal and Danielle Bayard Jackson’s Fighting for Our Friendships)
    • Understanding that no one technically owes you anything, but open communication and mutual care are essential for sustaining meaningful friendships
    Medium Friends
    • The role of “medium friendships” may not be our closest connections, but they serve essential social and emotional needs (inspired by Lisa Miller’s The Vexing Problem of the ‘Medium Friend’ in The New York Times)
    • The reality of friendship turnover—with 30-40% of medium friends shifting annually
    • Moving away from ranking friendships in favor of recognizing each connection's unique benefits and limitations

    Question of the Week:

    Do you feel like you’re focusing your deep friendships on the right people? What is your perspective on the role of medium friends in your life right now?


    Join the Conversation

    Email us: [email protected]

    Follow us on Instagram: @tablepancakespod

    Connect with us: @shelbihq | @katherinehfoster


    If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love it if you rated, reviewed, and subscribed to the show. Your support helps us continue these conversations.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 hr 12 min
  • Too Hot for Fair-Weather Friends: Showing Up in the Heat of the Summer

    In this episode of Table Pancakes, Katherine and Shelbi navigate the heat of the summer, the state of the world, and what it means to truly show up—because it’s too hot out for fair-weather friends.


    What We Cover:Who’s Holding Us & How We Support Our People
    • The balance of pressing pause on texts to be fully present with the people right before us.
    • Managing a text hiatus and reduced screen time while still maintaining meaningful connections
    • Meeting our close friends and family where they’re at—emotionally and physically
    Spinning Many Plates & Overstimulation
    • Personal evolution can shift levels of attention and engagement, sometimes leading to misalignment in relationships
    • Limiting the personal “hotline” and being intentional about who gets our energy and time
    • Balancing spontaneity and structure—embracing the flow of summer plans while making space for deeper connections
    Balm for the Hot Summer
    • Finding small joys, from The Evening Scoop (of gelato) to being the ultimate wingwoman
    • Showing up for friends, no matter the season—good or tough
    • Sharon Brous's New York Times piece "Train Yourself to Always Show Up" reminds us to step toward those who hold us tenderly without requiring heroic gestures

    Question of the Week:

    Who’s holding you, who are you holding, and what’s serving as a balm for you right now?


    Join the Conversation

    Email us: [email protected]

    Follow us on Instagram: @tablepancakespod

    Connect with us: @shelbihq | @katherinehfoster


    If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love it if you rated, reviewed, and subscribed to the show. Your support helps us continue these conversations.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min
  • Voice Notes from the Road: Post-Fourth of July Updates

    In this special episode of Table Pancakes, Shelbi and Katherine check in from different corners of the world through voice notes. Katherine has just returned from a two-week stint in Europe, while Shelbi is visiting her grandparents in Jackson, Tennessee.


    Tune in as they share their post-Fourth of July reflections, travel highlights, and personal updates, offering a glimpse into their experiences from two different settings.


    Join the Conversation

    Email us: [email protected]

    Follow us on Instagram: @tablepancakespod

    Connect with us: @shelbihq | @katherinehfoster


    If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love it if you rated, reviewed, and subscribed to the show. Your support helps us continue these conversations.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    14 min
  • Keeping It Social: Navigating Connection in the Digital Age

    In this episode of Table Pancakes, Katherine and Shelbi reflect on their relationships with social media—how they keep it social, how it influences friendships, and its more significant impact on culture and connectivity.


    What We Cover:Let’s Be Social vs. Follow for Follow
    • Social media can be a powerful tool for connection, allowing us to build meaningful relationships with people we may never have met otherwise
    • Using social platforms as forums for learning, inspiration, and thought-provoking conversations
    • We must acknowledge how social media can feel both deeply connective and isolating and why it’s essential to examine our relationship with it and take breaks when needed
    The Strategy of Sharing
    • I am inspired by Dr. Darian, a multi-hyphenate who shares his work, life, and vulnerabilities in a way that invites engagement and connection
    • How authentically sharing personal stories, interests, and experiences can inspire and resonate with others
    Laying It All Out
    • Embracing documenting and sharing the creative process to make work more accessible and relatable
    • Finding the balance between living in the moment and documenting it, ensuring that sharing remains intentional rather than performative
    • Navigating what to share vs. what to keep private and how to create a positive, connected space online

    Question of the Week:

    What’s your relationship with social media, and how does it influence your relationship with others?


    Join the Conversation

    Email us: [email protected]

    Follow us on Instagram: @tablepancakespod

    Connect with us: @shelbihq | @katherinehfoster


    If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love it if you rated, reviewed, and subscribed to the show. Your support helps us continue these conversations.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min
  • Listening to Yourself: How Self-Awareness Shapes Connection

    In this episode of Table Pancakes, Katherine and Shelbi continue the conversation on listening—but this time, they turn inward. Following their previous episode, "Is This Thing On?" Being a Good Listener to Friends & Hearing Others, they explore how listening to yourself influences how you show up in relationships, navigate belonging, and build deeper connections.


    What We Cover:Hearing the Voice Within (& the Voices Around Us)
    • How childhood environments shape our ability and willingness to listen to ourselves
    • The role of intuition and introspection in relationships—especially when friends and loved ones engage with these practices differently
    • The power of “transitional characters” who break generational cycles by profoundly listening to themselves (inspired by We Can Do Hard Things – Breaking Generational Cycles: Embodiment & Healing Trauma with Prentis Hemphill)
    Navigating Belonging and the Fear of Being Perceived
    • The fear of being perceived and ignoring personal blind spots can prevent authentic self-expression
    • Recognizing that belonging and safety sometimes take precedence over fully embracing what we hear from within
    • Understanding that not everyone is on the same path of self-listening requires empathy and acceptance, and you can’t bring everyone with you
    Celebrating Yourself Becomes a Party with Others
    • Honoring your wants, needs, and boundaries is essential to self-listening
    • How expressing desires in relationships fosters more substantial, more authentic connections
    • Celebrating yourself and sharing that joy is necessary to uplift the people around you

    Question of the Week:

    Do you think you’re listening to yourself enough, and how does this impact how you interact with others?


    Join the Conversation

    Email us: [email protected]

    Follow us on Instagram: @tablepancakespod

    Connect with us: @shelbihq | @katherinehfoster


    If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love it if you rated, reviewed, and subscribed to the show. Your support helps us continue these conversations.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    47 min

About Table Pancakes

From the publisher's feed

In a culture that’s lacking in connection, it can sometimes be as simple as grabbing breakfast with a friend and chatting about life. Inspired by our ritual of pancake dates, join co-hosts…